LAURA REED: LIVE AT THE POUR HOUSE

BY: Missy Malouff

July 11, 2016

Last night, Laura Reed hosted a Soul Shakedown Party at The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh, NC. The crowd was diverse in age, gender, and race. Believe it or not, most crowds in Raleigh consist of white people aging from 18-35. It’s one thing for an artist to touch a specific demographic, but it’s a completely different thing for an artist to be able to communicate with just about anyone. This likely comes from Laura Reed’s evidently compassionate soul. The way she moves, talks, and writes music comes from an empathetic place; which is so refreshing when seeing white males whining about their personal problems dominating the music industry. We not only need more women, we need women like Laura Reed leading the stage. She commands this presence that is empowering to every woman in the room....(continued)

Behind the Scenes with Laura Reed

A performer’s inspiration: Laura Reed loves local

Laura Reed, who calls the Triangle home, is fresh off performing at SXSW and recently put out a video for her song “Naturally” off her latest album “The Awakening.”

Reed is all about local. She supports local businesses and makes sure she plays shows here in the Triangle as well. That’s why she’s double booked, so to speak, on Saturday, April 25.

The South African born singer will play during Brewgaloo, Raleigh’s annual beer fest that features breweries from across North Carolina. She’s scheduled to take the City Plaza stage at 2 p.m.

You can also catch her the same day at the Art of Cool Festival in Durham. Her set will begin at 9:45 p.m. at The Pinhook. “[The Art of Cool] is a nonprofit that’s really helping elevate jazz, different musicians and kids,” Reed says. “Anything that’s helping bring music to children, I’m all for it!”

We recently spent a day with Reed in Raleigh to talk about her music, upcoming shows and her affinity for local.

Laura Reed’s debut album The Awakening is a labor of love three years in the making. The North Carolina-bred singer gave us the first taste of her album back in 2012 with the video for the uplifting “Faith Not Fear,” followed by the motivational “Wake Up” (which has been featured on both the big and small screen). By the time we exclusively premiered “Naturally” last year, we needed no further convincing that her full-length album would be well worth the wait. Released in December 2014 under her own label, Five Foot Giant Records, The Awakening is a refreshing blend of retro-leaning soul and pop with hints of gospel and R&B.

Now touring and promoting the album, Reed recently released the latest single, “Struggle,” an inspirational anthem co-written with Shannon Sanders. Backed by a gospel choir, the stirring tune speaks to the familiar issues that plague each of us at one time or another. Rather than wallow in self-pity, the singer encourages us to treat our struggles as an opportunity to heal, learn, and grow. Sometimes it's easier said than done, but a little positivity goes a long way. For an added dose of inspiration, take a minute to listen to the acoustic version below, then check out her ukulele-driven cover of Jazmine Sullivan's "Silver Lining," an optimistic closing thought for anyone going through a struggle right now.

You can purchase a hard copy (CD or vinyl) of The Awakening via her website or download the set via iTunes. And, if you're looking to stay indoors this Saturday night, you can attend a Laura Reed concert from the comfort of your warm and cozy home. The artist will be performing a full concert via livestream, taking live requests and giving away some swag. Just click this link and pay what you want to attend.

"Reed oozes charisma and confidence, her voice nothing less than an instrument of seduction. Fans of Amy Winehouse and Adele will no doubt embrace her alongside hip-hop aficionados and collectors of ‘60s girl-group and Motown." - Fred Mills